Sudden Confession Time.Until I started writing this blog post, I had always assumed “Shiroishi City” was pronounced “Shiraisi City.”
I kept typing “シライシシ” but it wouldn’t convert… so I Googled it and finally realized,
“Wait… it’s ‘Shiroishi’?”
It’s too embarrassing, so I won’t dwell on it any further,
but this story has a proper epilogue. Please read all the way to the end.I left the Kanto region early in the morning, clutching my Seishun 18 Kippu and rattling along local trains for several hours.
When I stepped off at Shiroishi Station, the first thing that hit me was, “Whoa, the sky feels huge right from the station front!”
So why did I come all the way from the Kanto region for a day trip to Shiroishi City in Miyagi Prefecture?There’s only one answer.
“Zao Fox Village.”That’s it. Just for that, I took the local lines all the way from Tokyo without using the shinkansen.
It was the 18 Kippu season, after all.“I saw those fluffy ones on a blog—they looked adorable.”
Especially the winter coat (around November to March) all poofed up.That single thought was my fuel for the long journey.I got off at Shiroishi Station, checked the east exit bus stop, and found the bus to “Aone Onsen via Zao Fox Village” running only twice a day—at 10:14 and 13:14.The scarcity of buses already felt like it was trying to tell me something.
Is Zao Fox Village Actually Terrible?
I hopped on the 10:14 bus and rode the mountain road for about 30 minutes until I arrived.Right at the entrance, a big sign greeted me:“Today, the pig smell is at its maximum.”
What the…?
A fox village, yet it proudly announces the stench of pigs.
It even had a cute little pig illustration with “sorry… stinky!” written underneath.
Apparently it’s from the pig farm down below.And everywhere you look—photography prohibited zones.
Way too many…
Intimidated by the sheer number of no-photo signs, I quickly stuffed my shoulder-slung Olympus E-M1 Mark II into my bag and shot everything on my iPhone instead.Deeper inside, at the free-range exhibit area, there was yet another sign:“Preparing unauthorized reports (including blogs, etc.) on Zao Fox Village is strictly prohibited.”
It is strictly prohibited to prepare reports without permission.
…What the hell? (second time)No reports. No documentation. They even added the English version for emphasis.
It also said they were recording.For a second I thought even writing a blog would be banned and got depressed.
Later I checked and found that normal impression blogs are fine.
What they ban are actual “investigation reports” that check breeding conditions or animal welfare from a critical standpoint.Still, the overall atmosphere wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy.Honestly, I think they should remove that sign.
The staff at the entrance were perfectly nice, and the guides inside were friendly too.
Free-Range Fox Exhibit
They’re here. They’re everywhere.
Dozens of free-range foxes just lounging around.
The very first thing that hits you is—The smell.It said “Today, the pig smell is at its maximum,” but honestly I couldn’t tell if it was pig or fox—just an incredibly strong, wild odor.
And when you get closer, you realize:They’re not cute at all.Nothing like the fluffy cloud foxes I saw on blogs.
Narrow eyes, teeth slightly visible, weirdly long bodies…
They’re honestly a bit gross.They’re not aggressive, not begging for attention—just staring at you with this piercing gaze that’s genuinely scary.It finally sank in, right there at point-blank range:
“These guys are wild animals.”By the time I noticed, I had taken every single photo on my iPhone.
Which means today’s Olympus only got to shine at Shiroishi Castle. Classic.
The Past Controversy and “It Was Worth Going”
Let me be honest.The foxes were way less cute than I expected.
The smell was intense. They were scary.
I couldn’t even use my proper camera.But I can say one thing for sure:“I’m glad I went.”Because the experience of “these foxes are actually kinda gross” is something you would never understand without seeing it in person.The fluffy foxes you see on X or Instagram are heavily filtered reality.
What you meet at the actual Fox Village are wild creatures that still have their instincts intact.
Japanese foxes have been feared and revered as “spirit foxes” since ancient times.
They are nothing like the pampered cats at a cat café.
I genuinely think every parent should bring their kids here at least once so they can learn what wild animals are really like.There are other animals too, by the way.
And the view of the Zao mountain range from the village was stunning.
The one thing I really regret is not pulling out my real camera for this…
Oh, and I later learned that there was a big viral video of “a fox stealing someone’s backpack” that caused a huge uproar about poor management and safety.
It later turned out the “victim” probably staged it, leading to a double scandal.
That’s probably why the facility is so strict about photos and reports.
While I Was There, I Also Visited Shiroishi Castle
After returning from the fox village, I spent the afternoon at Shiroishi Castle.
This is finally where my Olympus E-M1 Mark II got to do its job.
The camera that never left my bag at the fox village had traveled all the way from Tokyo just to photograph the stone walls and keep of Shiroishi Castle.
By the way, its official name is also “Masuoka Castle.”
The reconstructed keep has beautiful white walls and looked more impressive than I expected, but I’ll save the full details for my Shiroishi city walking report.
So even though I only came for the fox village, the castle ended up being surprisingly satisfying.
Shirakawa Ramen and the Truth Behind the “Shiraisi Problem”
On the way back, I got off at Shirakawa Station in Fukushima Prefecture and hit the ramen shop inside the station.Delicious.
The soup was a crystal-clear soy base, the hand-made wrinkled noodles had a fantastic chewy texture, and the chashu was thick and melt-in-your-mouth tender.By the way, I had always correctly read “Shirakawa” as shirakawa.
Yet I somehow misread “Shiroishi” as shiraisi.
The reason is pretty obvious.I had seen “Shirakawa” (famous for Shirakawa Ramen and Shirakawa no Seki) so many times that the pattern “Shira + something = shirakawa” was burned into my brain.
So when I saw “白石,” my brain automatically applied the same pattern and created the impossible reading “Shiraisi.”In other words, part of the blame for me reading Shiroishi as Shiraisi actually lies with Shirakawa City.Totally unfair, I know. But that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
The Shirakawa ramen was so good that I forgive them anyway.Shooting Date: March 24, 2024
Location: Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture (Zao Fox Village & Shiroishi Castle)
Camera: OLYMPUS OM-D E-M1 Mark II / M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-200mm F3.5-6.3 (Shiroishi Castle), iPhone 13 (Fox Village & travel)
Weather: Clear
High: 18.4°C
Low: -0.2°C
Data source: https://tenki.jp/past/2024/03/24/amedas/2/7/
Shiroishi: Precipitation 0.0 mm, Sunshine 8.4 hours